Tatu City, Kenya’s landmark mixed-use development on Nairobi’s outskirts, has officially launched its After-School Artificial Intelligence (AI) Program under Tatu Reach, the city’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiative. The launch coincided with the graduation of the first cohort of students — learners from Tatu Primary School — who successfully completed a 13-week pilot course in front-end web development and artificial intelligence.
The program targets learners aged 14 to 15 and is designed to equip them with foundational digital literacy, coding, and problem-solving skills essential for participation in the modern digital economy. Through an interactive curriculum covering HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, students developed real-world projects that introduced them to how technology powers innovation across industries.
Empowering Future Innovators
“At Tatu City, we are preparing our community for the jobs of the future,” said Solomon Mahinda, Executive Vice President of Tatu City. “Our After-School AI Program equips young learners with digital skills that will enable them to participate in tomorrow’s economy. Tatu City has also cemented its status as East Africa’s data centre hub, with several companies setting up large-scale facilities that will create hundreds of skilled jobs and enhance Kenya’s position as a regional leader in digital infrastructure. We want the surrounding community to be ready for the opportunities that will emerge right here at Tatu City.”
The program’s pilot phase trained 20 students from Tatu Primary School, providing hands-on experience in coding, critical thinking, and creativity. Participants developed their own capstone projects — small digital applications that demonstrated their understanding of front-end web design and introductory AI concepts.
The graduation ceremony was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy (MoICDE), underscoring the government’s emphasis on digital skills development as a pillar of Kenya’s socio-economic transformation.
Public-Private Collaboration for Digital Inclusion
The After-School AI Program was implemented through partnerships with leading technology and education organizations that contributed curriculum design, mentorship, and equipment. These included Qhala, a digital innovation company; Power Learn Project Africa, a Pan-African technology education initiative; Ngeda, a training and mentorship provider; Viking Cruises, a global travel company; and CCI Global, Africa’s largest business process outsourcing firm.
Together, these partners supplied computers, learning materials, and tutors to ensure students received a comprehensive introduction to programming and AI in a supportive learning environment.
“This initiative reflects the power of collaboration between the private sector and local communities,” said a Ministry of ICT official present at the event. “As Kenya continues its digital transformation journey, such partnerships are vital in ensuring that every young person, regardless of background, can develop the skills needed for the future workplace.”
Building on a Track Record of Community Empowerment
The After-School AI Program builds on the success of the Tatu City Training Academy, which has since 2023 provided free vocational training to over 600 local residents in trades such as masonry, plumbing, steel fixing, and security. The addition of a digital skills component marks a deliberate shift toward technology-driven education aimed at bridging the digital divide in local communities.
“We see this as an evolution of our community empowerment agenda,” said Mr. Mahinda. “As industries evolve, digital proficiency becomes the new foundation of employability. By introducing these skills early, we are ensuring that our youth can participate meaningfully in the technology economy emerging around them.”
Tatu City’s education-driven ESG portfolio under Tatu Reach continues to grow. Beyond digital training, the initiative includes programs such as the school feeding project, which has delivered more than two million nutrient-rich meals to learners in surrounding schools, and Tatu Rugby, which uses sports and mentorship to teach teamwork, discipline, and leadership among young people.
Aligning with National Digital Transformation Goals
Kenya’s government has prioritized digital literacy and innovation as key enablers of economic growth under the Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy pillar of its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). Initiatives like Tatu City’s AI program complement national efforts to prepare a digitally skilled workforce capable of supporting growth in sectors such as ICT, data centres, fintech, and digital manufacturing.
Officials from the MoICDE noted that grassroots initiatives like this one play a crucial role in achieving equitable access to technology education. “By integrating digital skills development into community programs, Tatu City is helping actualize Kenya’s goal of becoming a globally competitive digital economy,” one ministry representative remarked.
Tatu City: A Growing Digital and Economic Hub
Located just 30 minutes from central Nairobi, Tatu City has rapidly evolved into one of Africa’s most successful new urban developments. It is home to more than 25,000 people daily — residents, students, and employees — and has attracted over KES 400 billion in investment from leading local and international companies.
Among its major investors and tenants are Heineken, Emirates Logistics, CCI Global, Cold Solutions, NCBA, Dormans, Naivas, Kärcher, FullCare Medical, and ADvTECH, alongside manufacturers and logistics firms driving Kenya’s industrial growth.
The city is also emerging as East Africa’s data centre hub, hosting major digital infrastructure developments that are expected to generate thousands of high-skilled technology jobs in the coming years. By introducing young learners to coding and AI, Tatu City aims to ensure that surrounding communities benefit directly from this transformation.
A Blueprint for Inclusive Smart Cities
Analysts view Tatu City’s initiative as a model for inclusive urban development, where social impact and economic opportunity evolve hand-in-hand. The After-School AI Program demonstrates how private urban developers can contribute to national goals in education and innovation while building stronger, more inclusive communities.
“What makes Tatu City unique is its integration of social programs with economic growth,” noted a development expert attending the event. “The same ecosystem that attracts multinational businesses is now nurturing local youth to become part of Kenya’s digital future.”
As the inaugural AI class graduates, plans are already underway to expand the program to include additional schools within and around Tatu City. The city’s management says future cohorts will cover advanced modules in data analytics, robotics, and machine learning — ensuring that learners progress from foundational coding to more sophisticated digital skills.
The success of the pilot phase, coupled with strong institutional partnerships, positions Tatu City as a pioneer in community-based digital education in Kenya — and a leading example of how the private sector can drive sustainable, inclusive technological growth across Africa.
